Method of manufacturing refrigerator shelves



June 6, 1944.

c. R. CARNEY 2,350,875

METHOD OF MANUFACTURING REFRIGERATOR SHELVES OriginaI'Filed April 25,1940 J I EM INVENTOR ()Z 72 (2279 ATTORNEYS.

Patented June 6, 1944 METHOD OF MANUFACTURING REFRIGERATOR SHELVESClifford n. Carney, Detroit, Mich., assignor t6 General MotorsCorporation,

corporation of Delaware April 25, 1940. Serial No.

Original application Detroit, Micla, a

331,497. Divided and this application January 14, 1942, Serial No.426,656

2 Claims. (Cl. 29-160) This invention relates to an improved method orprocess of manufacturing shelves such, for example, as refrigeratorshelves and the like.

The present application is a division of my pending application SerialNo. 331.497 filed April 25, 1940, now issued as Patent No. 2,274,125,coverihg a refrigerator shelf or similar article of manufacture. Noclaim is here made to such an article per se.

Oneof the objects of the present invention is to provide an improvedmethod or process for producing a refrigerator shelf or the like inwhich the shelf consists of cross members and side members or railswhich are secured together or united to form an integral structure orunit without the necessity of welding the parts together, and one whichpermits the formation of such a shelf from materials such as aluminum,stainless steel, or the like which are diflicult to weld.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved methodor process of the foregoing character capable of producing arefrigerator shelf in which the side or end members or rails of theshelf are formed from a relatively hard metal and the cross members froma relatively softer metal, and in which said process effects themechanical uniting of the cross members at or adjacent their oppositeend portions to the side or end members to produce a unitary shelf; saidprocess also contemplating the uniting or securing together of sidemembers or rails and cross members which may be formed of the samematerials or from different materials by the application of mechanicalpressures.

A' further object of the invention is to provide an improved method orprocess of forming or manufacturing a refrigerator shelf in which theshelf consists of supporting rails or members formed from a relativelyhard metal and cross or interconnecting members formed from relativelynarrow strips of anodized aluminum or aluminum wire which may be securedor united together mechanically.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved methodor process of forming a refrigerator shelf in which themetal of the sidemembers or rails of the shelf is relatively harder than the metal fromwhich the cross members are formed. and in which the harder metal willbite into the softer metal upon the mechanical uniting or securingtogether of the Parts.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved method orprocess of manufacturing a refrigerator shelf formed from metalshavtively simple and inexpensive series of steps or ing differentdegrees of hardness and difierent characteristics to produce a shelf ofattractive appearance due to the inherent diil'erences in color ofthediflerent metals from which it is formed.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved methodor process of forming a refrigerator shelf orthe like which shelfpossesses the characteristics of strength, durability and simplicity andone which is relatively inexpensive to manufacture by virtue of arelaoperations.

The above and other objects and advantages of the invention will appearfrom the following description and appended claims when considerad inconnection with the accompanying drawing forming a part of thisspecification wherein like reference characters designate correspondingparts in the several views.

In said drawing:

. Fig. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of a shelf made in accordancewith the method or process embodying the .present invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken substantiallyalong the line 2-2 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially along theline 3-3 of Fig. 2, look-- ing in the direction of the arrows andillustrating one of the steps of the method for producing the shelfshown in Figs. 1 and 2.

Fig. 4 is a further modification of the present inventionand'illustrates one step in the method of producing a shelf inaccordance with said modiflcation.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 5-5 ofFig. 4, looking in the direction of the arrows. 1

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary edge view or side elevation of a furthermodified form of shelf embodying the present invention.

Fig. 7 is a horizontal sectional view, partlyin elevation, of the shelfof Fig. 6, illustrating one of the steps of the method employed toproduce said shelf. M

Fig. 8 is a bottom plan view of a shelf embodygig a further modificationof the present invenon. v Fig. 9 is an enlarged fragmentary sectionalview taken substantially along the lineS-Q of Fig. 8, looking in thedirection of the arrows.

Fig. 10 is a bottom plan view of an improved shelf em fldying a furthermodified form of the 68 present invention; and

rows.

Before explaining in detail the present invention itis-to understoodthat the inven tion is not application tothe details of construction andarrangement of parts illustrated in the accompanying drawing, since, i

the invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced orcarried out in various ways. Also it is to be understoodthat thephraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose ofdescription'f and'not-of'limi tation.

Referring now to Figs. 1, 2 and 3 there is shown one form of shelf whichis produced by the method or process embodying the present'invention. Inthis form a pair of side members or rails 52 preferably formed from arelatively hard metal, has a series of longitudinally spacedsubstantially rectangularopenings .53 formed therein intermediate theopposite longitudinal edges of each member. As in the preceding forms,the side members are adapted to receive and support the end portions ofa plurality of longitudinally spaced cross members or bars. In thepresent form these cross members are shown at 54 as being substantiallyrectangular in cross section and are preferably formed from somerelatively softer metal than the side members, such for example asanodized aluminum, or the like.

As seen in Fig. 3, the walls of the openings 53 are preferably taperedinwardly in a direction ,away from the end faces of bars 54 and at leastthe size of the end portions of the cross members or bars is slightlygreater than the widest portion intermediate walls of the openings 53.The parts are preferably assembled by subjecting the cross members 54 topressures longitudinally thereof as indicated by the arrow in Fig. 3, toforce the end portions thereof into the holes or openings 53 to producea tight union of the parts as shown at 55 in this figure. After assemblyof the parts the exposed ends 56 of the cross members 54 may be peenedto provide a relatively smooth surface. It will be understood also thatsince the metal of the side members 52 is relatively harder than thatfrom which the cross members 54 are formed, the metal of the sidemembers surrounding the end portions of the cross members will bite intothe cross members to secure the parts together as a unit.

Referring ,now particularly to Figs. 4 and 5, there is shown a modifiedform embodying the present invention. The shelf of the present form iscomposed of side members or supporting rails 60 formed from a relativelyhard metal, such as steel or stainless steel. Each side member isprovided with a transverse slot or opening 6| which extends inwardlyfrom one longitudinal edge of shown, the end portions of the crossmembers 53 are inserted between the ears or flanges 62 formed from theside members and pressure is then applied, as indicated by the arrow inFig. 4, to force the end portions of the cross members into the slotsBl. Thereafter the .ears or flanges 52 are-subjected to pressure or aforce suihcient to return them to their original position, as best .seenat 64 in Fig. 4. By forcing the end portions of the cross members 63into the slots, the metal of the side rails adjacent said slots will becaused to i bite into the adjacent surfaces of the cross vmembers toprovide a tight union of the parts.

I By flattening the ears 62 which underlie the adthe side member to apoint beyond the longitudinal center thereof. The metal at oppositesides of each of the slots adjacent the open end thereof is pressedoutwardly to provide a pair of angularly disposed ears or flanges 52.

The slots 6| are adapted to receive and support the opposite endportions of cross members or bars 63. These bars are of slightly greatercross section than the slots 5| and are preferably formed from a metalwhich is relatively softer than the cross members or rails 50, such asfrom aluminum, or the like. I

Thecross members 63 may be assembled wit the side rails 60 in anysuitable manner. AS

.jacent' edgesof the .cross members, an additional securing together orbonding of the parts is effected. The result of the method of assemblingthe cross members 83 with the rails60 in accordance with the presentform of the invention is clearly illustrated at 65 in Fig. 5. Ifdesired, the exposed ends of the members 83 may be peened, as seen at68.

Referring now to Figs. 6 and 7 of the drawing, there is shown thereinanother modified form embodying the present irrven'tion. In this form ofthe invention a pair of sidemembers or supporting rails Ill are providedwith a series of preferably round holes or openings 'll' located inlongitudinally spaced relation. The rails are preferably formed from arelatively hard metal such as stainless steel or the like. The holes oropenings 'II are adapted to receive and support the end portions ofcross members or rods 12 formed from a relatively softer metal, such asaluminum or the like. As seen in Fig. '7, the holes or openingsll areslightly tapered. As shown, the diameter of the rods 12 is somewhatgreater than the largest diameter of the holes 'II. The cross membersare assembled with the side members I0 by applying pressureslongitudinally of the cross members of sufficient magnitude to force theend portions of said members into the openings II to provide a tightunion or joint between the parts such as that shown at 13 in Fig. 7. Byvirtue of the fact that the side members or rails are formed from hardermetal than the cross members, the metal of said side members surroundingthe holes or openings II will. firmly grip and bite into the adjacent.surfaces of the cross members to lock the parts together. If desired,the exposed ends of the rods or wires 12 may be peened. after theirassembly with the side rails. The arrow in Fig. 7 indicates thedirection of the application of pressure to the parts during the methodof assembly.

In Figs. 8 and 9 a further modified form embodying the invention isillustrated. In this form of the invention side members or rails areprovided which, as shown, are of T-shaped cross section, each railhaving a base portion 8| and a substantially centrally disposedupstanding web or flange 82. The flanges or webs 82 of the cross membersare' provided with a plurality of longitudinally spaced holes oropenings 83 which are adapted to receive and support the opposite endportions of cross members or bars 84. The parts are assembled byinserting the end portions of the bars in opposed pairs of openings 83,after which the assembled parts are placed in a press or other apparatusand subjected to pressures of suflicient magnitude to cause a tightunion between the parts. By subjecting the shelf to pressure, asmentioned, and by virtue of the fact that the side members are formedfrom a relatively harder metal than the cross members, the metal of saidside members surrounding the openings 89 will be caused to bite into theadjacent surfaces of the end portions of the cross members 84 to firmlylock the parts together as a unit.

As in the preceding forms the end members 80 may be formed of'steel,such as stainless steel or the like, and the cross members 84 fromaluminum, aluminum alloy or the like.

Referring now to Figs. and 11 of the drawing, there is shown a furthermodified form of the present invention. In this form the shelf isprovided with a frame shown as a whole at 90, which frame has spacedopposed side portions 9i and spaced opposed end portions 92. As seen inFig. 10 the frame may be formed from two substantially U-shaped'sections with the abutting ends thereof being secured together at 93 inany suitable manner, as by butt welding. As shown in Fig. 11, the frameis preferably T-shaped in cross section having a base portion 94'and anintermediate upstanding web or flange portion 95. The shelf of thepresent form of the invention is" adapted for use in a refrigerator orthe like whose depth from front toback is greater than its width. Ifdesired and to facilitate the easy removal of articles from the shelf,the front end 92 of the shelf, shown at the left of these figures, maybe reduced inheight as indicated at 96, Fig. 11.

The frame 99 is provided in the side portions 9| of its upstanding webor flange 95 with a plurality of longitudinally spaced and opposedsubstantially rectangular openings 91 which are adapted to receive andsupport the end portions of cross members or bars 98. One method ofassembling the parts of the present form of the invention is to insertthe end portions of the cross member 99 in the opposed openings 91 andto place the assembled parts into a press and subject them to pressuresof sufllcient magnitude to cause the relatively harder metal of the webor flange 95 at portions surrounding the cross members 98, to bite intothe latter and securely lock the parts together 'to provide a unitaryand, in effect, an integral structure.

While I have disclosed herein several methods for assembling shelves inaccordance with the present invention, it is to be understood that theside members or supporting rails, as well as the supporting frame ofFigs. 10 and 11, may be assembled with the cross members in any suitableand convenient manner or by any method capable of performing amechanical uniting of the parts. In all forms of the invention it willbe understood that by applying mechanical pressures to the parts therelatively. harder metal of ing any of the foregoing disclosures may beformed of any suitable material and that the side rails or members may,if desired, be formed of materials of the same kind. In this event, theparts will be united when one or the other is deformed under pressureand they will be held in their assembled positions by a mechanical unionof th parts.

By virtue of the present invention metal of lighter gauge may beemployed in the manufacture of shelves in accordance with saidinvention, and moreover, because of the fact that a materially lesserquantity of metal is used to produce said shelves, it is possible toemploy metals of higher grade having finished external surfaces, andthus produce superior and improved shelves at a manufacturing cost whichis comparable to, or perhaps even lower than the cost of shelvesheretofore made from lower grade unfinished metals.

The shelf when completed may be finished in any desired manner as bypolishing, bufiing, plating, etc. v

. Iclaim:

1. The method of manufacturing. shelves or the like having supportingside rails formed from a hard metal and interconnecting cross membersformed from relatively softer metal, which comprises the steps ofproviding the side rails with a plurality of opposed openings entirelycircumscribed by walls and in which the size of the openings is somewhatsmaller than the initial sizeof the end portions of the cross members,assembling the parts with the opposite end portions of the cross membersaligned with said openings, moving the parts so aligned in a directionlongitudinally of the cross members to bring them into engagement withone another, and

thereafter deforming'the end portions of saidcross members by forcingthem into said openlugs to effect a mechanical union between th siderails and the cross members.

2. Themetho'd of manufacturing shelves or the like having supportingside rails formed from a hard metal and interconnecting cross membersformed from relatively softer metal, which comprises the steps ofproviding the side rails with a plurality of opposed openings entirelycircumscribed by walls and in which ,the walls of the openings taperinwardlyin a direction away from the end faces of the cross members andin which the size of the end portions of the cross members is greaterthan thewidest portion intermediate walls of the openings, assemblingthe parts with the opposite end portions of the cross members alignedwith said openings, moving the parts so aligned in a directionlongitudinally of the cross members to bring them into engagement withone another, and thereafter deforming the end portions of said crossmembers by forcing them into said openings and causing the walls of theopenings to bite into said end portions for effecting a mechanical unionbetween the side rails and the cross members.

CLIFFORD R. CARNEY.

